Improved curtain-fixture



I N. PUES, PHOTO UTHOGRAPHER. WASH thrtd (gratej 'ai-wt dtyiiiw.

RODNEY L. SMITH, ononasno, or WoLooTrvILLE, ooNNEoTIoUT.; ELISHA TURNER., aXEoUToR.'

Letters Patent N0.- l06,4l6, dated August-16, 1870.

w*- 4 IMPRovED CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

The Schedule referred to incthese Letters Patent and making prt of the same To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, RcDnnY L. SMITH, of Wolcottville, in the county of Litchfield and in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andcxact description thei'eo'i'eference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a front elevatiouof a curtain suspended and operated by means of my improved fixture;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the inner side of the main bracket; and l Figures 4 and 5 show modifications ot' the devicel for changing the direction of the cord or tape.

My invention is an improvement upon a curtainfixture for whichv Letters Patent No. 92,094 Vwere granted to It. B. Priudle; and l It consists in extending the'cord or tape from the spool over or around a suitable stud, or its equivalent,I secured to the bracket in front of said spool, so that-a downward pull upon said cord or tape shall draw forward the end of the roller, and thereby release the ratchet-wheel from engagement with the det-ent, as is hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawingl A represents a curtain secured upon a roller, B, one end of which is pivoted, in the usual manner, within a bracket, C, while the opposite end is provided with a metallic spool, D, the iianges of which are formed by a cap, I, covering the end of the roller, and by a ratchet-wheel, E. V

Secured to and projecting outward from the center, radially, of the .ratchet-wheel E, is a pivot, F, which, rest-ing withina suitable slot, g, within the bracket G, furnishes anlaxial bearing for the roller.

As seen in figs'. 2l and 3, the slot g extends forward and lslightly upward, so that thepivot F naturally inclines to its rear end, in which position the ratchetwheel Ill-engages with a detent, H, projecting inward fmin the inner side 4of the bracket, by which means the roller is prevented from turning tothe. rear; but if, however, said pivot F be drawn toward the forward end of said slot g, said ratchet-wheel Ewill be released from engagement, so as to permit the roller to. turn freely in' either direction. Upon being released, the` inclination ofthe slot, together with the weight of the curtain, will canse said pivot to roll backward, and bring said ratchet-wheel and detent into engagement again.

Although an upward inclination from the rear toward the front is preferably given to the slot g, it is found that a pivotwill as readily roll backward, so as Vto cause the ratchet-wheel and detent to engage, if said slot is made horizontal.

In order that the roller may be thus released from engagement and operated when desired, the tape or XVhenthus arranged a slight downward pull upon the tape orv cord will draw forward the end of the roller, and hold it in such position until the curtain is adjusted to the desired height, when;,'upou relea-sf ing said tape' or'cord, said roller returns toand is locked in position.

In fig. 4 is shown auotlie1.form of stud for changing the direction of the `tape, consisting'of a loop, L, through which said tape passes, and by means ot' which it is. held in place; While in iig.'5 is seen a roller, M, .pivoted upon the lower portion of said loop, so as to receive and diminish the friction of said tape or cord, both ofv which modifications, however, are essentially the same as the stud K.

The especial advantages possessed by this device are that,.whi'le eilicient in operation,'.it has a small number of parts, is not liable to get out lof order, and can be produced at a moderate cost.'

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- The stud K, secured to the bracket G, in front of the spool D, in combination with the horizontal or Vinclined slot g and tape I, or its equivalent, substantially as shown and described and for the purposel specified.V

Also, the means employed for releasing the ratchetwheel E from engagement with the detent H, consisting of the slot g, the tape I, or its equivalent, and the stud K, substantially as shownand-described.

In 'testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set iny' hand this 30th day of April, 1870.

Witnesses:

0. H. Oullins,

SARAH D. SMITH.

RODNEY L. SMITH. 

